After months of planning and saving, you've finally booked that long awaited vacation. Maybe it's a South African safari, an Antarctic expedition, a European tour, or a honeymoon in Tahiti. Whatever your trip may be, it is important to think about protecting your vacation with Travel Insurance. Below are some instances in which Travel Insurance may be a worthwhile investment:
You need to cancel your trip. If your sister-in-law becomes seriously ill and you must cancel your trip, what happens to your non-refundable deposits or pre-payments? With travel insurance, your deposits/pre-payments/total cost of your trip will be refunded.
You miss your connection or your flight is cancelled. It's 10 p.m. and you and your immediate family arrive at the airport for a connecting flight, only to find that your flight has been cancelled. Who can assist you with finding new flights to get everyone home? With travel insurance, a travel concierge available 24/7 will be able to help you locate an alternate flight and book the seats for you.
A natural disaster such as a hurricane or earthquake damages your destination. You are at a beach resort in North Carolina, and you are forced to evacuate due to a hurricane which has made your resort uninhabitable. Who can assist you in being evacuated? Who will reimburse you for your lost vacation investment? A travel concierge provided by the travel insurance company will assist you in your evacuation, and the cost of the trip will be refunded to you.
A terrorist event occurs. Three weeks before your scheduled arrival, a terrorist incident occurs in the city to which you are planning to visit. Who will reimburse you if you want to cancel your trip? You won't need to worry about the lost payments with travel insurance.
You get sick or injured on your trip. You're walking down a street in Rio and twist your ankle. Who is able to assist you in finding an English-speaking physician? With travel insurance, a travel concierge will be able to help you locate the necessary resources to address your injury and cover the cost of the treatment.
Your baggage is delayed or lost. You arrive in Jamaica, and your luggage doesn't. If it's lost, who will help you find it? If it's delayed who will reimburse you for covered necessities? If it's stolen, who will reimburse you for its contents? Your travel insurance company will provide a daily allowance to cover your necessities, help you locate the missing baggage, and/or reimburse you for the contents of your lost/stolen baggage.
Your passport is lost. It's your first visit to Europe, and your passport and wallet are stolen. Where do you turn for assistance in obtaining emergency cash, and how will you get your passport replaced? Having travel insurance will allow you to resolve this situation in a timelier manner than having to deal with it yourself.
You need an emergency medical evacuation. You fall and break your leg while hiking the Inca Trail, and adequate medical treatment is not available. Who will help coordinate a medical evacuation? With travel insurance, a medical evacuation can be easily coordinated and covered through your policy.
Your travel company files for bankruptcy. Your cruise line, airline or tour operator goes bankrupt. Who will pay for your non-refundable expenses? Who is able to assist in getting you to your destination? Oftentimes, the cruise line or the airline will offer you their own waivers and insurance options. These options may not always provide adequate protection; in addition, if they go bankrupt, then your insurance will also become invalid. Using a third-party insurance company will ensure that your trip is fully refunded and a new flight or cruise is booked.
You need emergency assistance services. Your bag was lost with your insulin inside. You need help to locate your bag as soon as possible and have your emergency prescription filled. Who do you call? The travel concierge available 24/7 through your travel insurance will be able to assist with locating your bag and making sure your prescription is filled.
It may seem like Travel Insurance is just another additional expense, but with different levels of protection at a wide range of price points, it is a small price to pay for peace of mind before and during your trip.